MEANWHILE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD...IN JAPAN
Carlos Harada, Yuji's older cousin and Obito's younger brother, (30) tall, hazel-green eyes, with his dark and short, slightly tousled curls in a cropped cut, wears a silk black bathrobe that hangs wide open revealing his sculpted chest, well-defined abs and black sweats, leans on the sliding glass door facing towards the tranquil, Japanese garden while speaking enthusiastically to someone on the phone and displaying an enormous wolfish grin on his face. He's talking to his older brother Obito who stated that he's having lunch with Yuji at a brand-new restaurant.
"Fangirls? Melani was your only fangirl. I told her she should've married the younger, sexier looking one who has more stamina than your cryptic ass. Besides, Ichirou and I have more fangirls than you & Yuji," Carlos boasts as he barks a laugh.
Behind Carlos, Ichirou Harada (27), Carlos's cousin and Yuji's older brother, in a dark kimono with his long, layered ebony hair flat around his handsome face, lounges in a chair by a wooden coffee table with his sandaled feet outstretched in front of him, abruptly stops sipping his hot tea and lifts a brow at his older cousin upon hearing his name.
He shrugs, closing his eyes and exhales deeply into his tea. His lips lift at the corners before taking a sip. Carlos, still facing the garden, doesn't take notice of his cousin and continues his conversation with his brother.
"Better looking? Maybe in your dreams. Anyway, how is he?" Carlos asked. He pauses. Suddenly, he hits the glass door with the side of his fist, violently shaking it. Ichirou eyes his cousin with curiosity.
"The Tattaglias? Shit. Already? The old hag doesn't waste time, does she? Don't worry, we'll stop him before he gets mixed up in that mess," Carlos reassures his brother.
Ichirou pauses from sipping his tea to intently listen in on his cousin's conversation and inexpressively chime in.
"Tell Tobi he needs to do whatever it takes to protect my little brother," Ichirou chimes into his cousin's phone conversation.
Carlos slightly jumps, turning towards his cousin behind him with a relieved look. Ichirou silently chuckles to himself, amused to find he surprised his cousin especially since he's usually more alert due to the nature of his profession. It just shows the level of trust he has and how much he has his guard down around him. Only one of a few get to say that. Even fewer in Ichirou's case. Carlos relays the message on the phone.
"Alright. Tell Mel and my nephew hi. Mama sends her love. Take care, Tobi."
Carlos relays to his brother and hangs up. He slips his phone in his pocket and sits across Ichirou. He studies Ichirou sipping his tea with eyes closed, already knowing what's making the crease on his cousin's forehead. Although Carlos and Ichirou are cousins, they've practically grown up together and are as close as brothers. He actually spent more time with him than his actual brother due to the nature of Ichirou's circumstance.
"Hey, I wouldn't worry about Yuji. He's a smart kid, at least from what Tobi says about him. Besides, he has Tobi looking out for him. He won't let him get mixed up in anything he has no business getting into."
"Hnn," Ichirou replies.
Carlos studies his younger cousin and knows that he's not truly convinced. Ichirou has always been a worrier.
"Hey, remember when he caught us sneaking back in the house that one time?" Carlos asked, changing the subject.
"You mean when I told you it wasn't a good idea to sneak out at night, but you insisted and dragged me along anyway?" Ichirou challenged.
Carlos snatches the square pillow behind him and hurls it at Ichirou's head who slightly moves his head out of the way and catches it with ease while maintaining a hold on his tea.
"Ha! Whatever. You know you wanted to see Suki as much as I wanted to see her beautiful, sexy older sister. You couldn't stop smiling for days when we got back."
Ichirou smirks. Carlos stretches and puts his feet on the coffee table. Ichirou glares murderously at him. Carlos mouths a 'sorry' and places them back down. Ichirou has an OCD when it comes to cleanliness. He can't stand any type of mess or disorder of any type. Even as a child, Ichirou was always very neat and kept everything in pristine order. You never had to tell him to clean up since he never made a mess in the first place. As a matter of fact, it was Ichirou who was always cleaning up after Carlos. Carlos was the messy and disorganized one. He wasn't dirty per se, but he didn't mind keeping his room looking like it's been "lived in."
If there are two words to describe his cousin, it would be clean and cheap. Ichirou would prefer to be called living frugally or thrifty. Carlos calls it cheap. Ichirou loves a good deal and will drive to the other side of town just to get the deal instead of going to the store down the street. Carlos also believes that if haggling was a sport, his cousin would be MVP. He once left Ichirou at the store because he haggled with the salesman for about an hour just to get a dollar off a canned good. Ichirou swears by it that it was worth it. Carlos would've just paid the full price and went on with his day. These are the reasons Carlos could never share a room with Ichirou again like they did when they were younger. He almost killed Ichirou for vacuuming his side of the room at the crack of dawn waking Carlos up. On the other hand, Carlos ate a whole bag of potato chips on Ichirou's bed with only a portion of it making it in his mouth as pay back. His mom tore him a new one after Ichirou complained, earning a huge smirk from Ichirou.
"Hmph. It was worth doing extra chores and getting lectured," Ichirou admitted.
"You mean Tobi's chores. Speaking of...when are you gonna make it official? I mean she's practically my cousin-in-law already so what are you guys waiting on?" Carlos grilled his cousin.
"It's not that simple. You know there are...complications." Ichirou answers.
"Sure it is. You have a wedding, her sister flies in for the ceremony, we rekindle what we had, Suki becomes Mrs. Ichirou Harada and you guys make some adorable baby Harada cousins. Everyone's happy," Carlos explains with a huge grin.
Ichirou raises a brow and chuckles replacing Carlos's wide grin with a look of shock and confusion.
"Should've known that you had an ulterior motive."
"Hey, I'm only thinking about you and Suki you know. I don't want my cousin and his lady going to hell because they're living in sin."
"Since when did you care where my soul ends up?" Questions Ichirou.
"Aww...don't be like that, Chiro. I always care about you!" Carlos teases.
"Don't. Call me that," Ichirou answers coldly.
"Fine, sheesh! You have to be honest, we need a couple of tiny Haradas running around here to pass on these awesome Harada genes and carry on the Harada bloodline. Besides it's not like Suki's getting any younger,"
Ichirou pitches the pillow back at Carlos so fast that it managed to tap him in the face barely catching it. Carlos fakes a groan and laughs.
"Watch what you say," Ichirou threatens.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was I heard that it's harder for women to have babies past a certain age. There're more complications?"
"Hnn. That's really none of your concern. Besides, if you want little Haradas running around why don't you have some?"
"What do you think I'm trying to do? That's why you guys need to have a wedding so she can have a reason to come. I'll be your best man and she'll be Suki's maid of honor. She's gonna look gorgeous in a sexy dress and I'm gonna look sexy in my tux. She's gonna be drinking and later we're gonna be..."
Before Carlos could answer, Suki, Ichirou's fiancée snuck up on the cousins.
"Who's going to be looking sexy and drinking?" Suki asked in Japanese.
Carlos turns around with a surprised expression to see Suki Nishima (26) fair-skinned, long, light-brown hair down to the middle of her back, light-brown almond-shape eyes, a small beauty mark under her right eye, wearing minimal to no make-up but is said to have natural beauty that make most girls envious, in a purple kimono, approaches Ichirou from behind and leans over to wrap her arms around him and gently kisses him which he reciprocates and places an arm over hers. Although Suki speaks English very well, she mainly speaks Japanese at home with the men. Ichirou is fluent in English, Japanese and Portuguese. Carlos is fluent in English and thanks to his mom, Portuguese. He understands Japanese well but can only speak conversational Japanese unlike Ichirou.
Carlos grins, ecstatic to see his quiet, introvert cousin openly displaying affection which he was fortunate enough to see. Ichirou and Carlos grew up with Suki. Carlos always knew Ichirou and Suki were meant to be together. They didn't admit to their feelings until after high school. Carlos, on the other hand, had an off again, on again relationship with Suki's older sister, Ahmya. She broke up with Carlos and moved to Australia for school. They haven't spoken since. Suki speaks to her regularly and only mentions her occasionally.
"Good morning, dear," she greets Ichirou in Japanese.
"Mmm. Good morning," Ichirou replies in Japanese.
"Carlos, what scheme are you trying to drag Ichirou this time? What's this about looking sexy and drinking?" Suki accuses Carlos.
Carlos' grin widens. Suki turns her head away quickly, brightly blushing, noticing Carlos's robe hanging open. Carlos winks at her, grins and stands up. Ichirou shakes his head and laughs.
"Just talking about your beautiful sister and how Ichirou could help make everyone happy. Isn't that right, little cousin?" Carlos teases Ichirou.
"I told you it's more complicated than that." Ichirou answers.
Suki gives the cousins a confused look.
"I'm just saying there's not gonna be a perfect time like the present. Speaking of the present, I'm going to give that perfect sister of yours a call right now and leave you guys to make little Harada babies," Carlos retorts before dashing upstairs.
Suki gives Ichirou a puzzled look. She takes his tea and places it on the table to sit on his lap.
"Harada babies?" She questions.
Ichirou silently chuckles, pulls Suki by the waist closer to him and plants a kiss on her forehead. She smiles and intimately kisses him. They break the kiss. Ichirou caresses Suki's cheek, adoringly staring. He smirks.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" Suki questions her beloved.
Ichirou smiles, shaking his head.
"You look exceptionally beautiful today, that's all," Ichirou answers.
Suki smiles turning red. She places a hand on each cheek and plants a long kiss on his forehead while Ichirou relishes the feeling with closed eyes.
"You, Mr. Ichirou Harada, are a very kind and good man," Suki admits.
She leans in, wraps her arms around Ichirou's neck and passionately kisses him. Ichirou pulls her closer wrapping his hand tighter around her back and head.
"Sweetheart?" Suki questions.
"Hmm?"
"Does Carlos know he's gonna have a brand-new baby cousin and that you made me Mrs. Ichirou Harada a few weeks ago?" Suki continues.
"I was going to tell him, but I changed my mind. I think I want to keep you all to myself a little while longer if that's alright with you, Mrs. Ichirou Harada?"
"I don't see the harm in that, my dear husband. And technically, it's Mr. Ichirou Nishima since you took my name," Suki answers.
"Hnn. Only on paper at least until we have unresolved matters. Anyway, my beautiful wife, why don't we as my flirtatious older cousin put it, make little Harada babies? I would hate to disappoint him," Ichirou replies.
Suki grins widely and plants a passionate kiss on her husband. Ichirou stands up and carries her upstairs to their bedroom, bridal style. He stops in front of their bedroom door to pull her closely towards his body as he lowers his head at his blushing bride and intimately kisses her. She bluntly accepts his eager invitation by tightening her arms around his neck and pulling him down towards her as she leans up closer towards him. She chuckles.
"Impatient, are we? So unlike you. You're normally a more patient man and rarely lose your composure," Suki implies.
"Aah. Normally, that would be true but then again you never make it easy for me to keep my composure especially when your captivating eyes smile at me as if you haven't seen me..." Ichirou teases his wife.
He caresses the side of her face, trailing it down to her lips. He traces a finger on her soft, red lips.
"Mmm...go on," Suki encouraged.
Ichirou chuckles and smiles adoringly at his wife.
"These lips...invites me to capture it with mine and taste its delectable sweetness," Ichirou continues.
Ichirou captures Suki's lips, vigorously kissing her as she repositions herself to straddle him, and he pushes her up against the door holding onto each of her thighs. He glides his right hand up her thigh hiking her kimono up a little. He kisses and slightly sucks on one of her weak spots - the part of her neck just underneath her ear. She shivers and releases a slight moan underneath him making him smirk at her response as he whispers in her ear.
"Your soft, silky skin begs for me to caress, lick and explore every inch down to..."
"Oi! Are you guys going to go in your bedroom because you didn't tell me that you're freaky like that and don't care about having an audience?" Carlos interrupts.
Ichirou abruptly stops, gritting his teeth. Suki smiles apologetically at her husband whose eyes practically glow red.
"Please let me kill him," Ichirou pleads to his wife, who only chuckles as she caresses his face.
Ichirou regretfully puts Suki down. He touches his forehead to hers, concentrating on her kind eyes, trying hard to ignore his meddlesome cousin.
"You can't. You'll miss him too much," she answers.
"I'll get over it. I still have both of you," Ichirou continued.
"It'll break your Auntie's heart," Suki answers trying to calm her husband down.
"Aah…yes. I suppose I can't be the reason Auntie's sad," Ichirou admits.
Ichirou loves Carlos' mother like his own. She practically raised him after her sister's death though she is unaware of the details surrounding the deaths of her sister and her sister's husband. She was only told that there had been a break-in, and they were murdered. Carlos made Ichirou swear never to reveal the truth to his mother. It would kill her if she knew the truth. Ichirou always carried the guilt of lying to his favorite aunt.
"Ugh...quit rubbing it in that you're so in love. Some of us are still single and alone over here. And forget about what I said about making Harada babies... (mumbles in Portuguese) They're just little cockblockers anyway. I'm going to the bar to drown my sorrows and get laid," Carlos complains.
"Auntie will just have to do with Tobi," Ichirou threatens.
Suki laughs, holding her husband tighter. Carlos stomps down the stairs. Ichirou raises a brow at his cousin. Suki chuckles and looks at her husband with sympathy. Ichirou turns to his wife with a puzzled look.
"Wonder what's wrong with him?" Ichirou questions.
"I guess my sister finally told him that she's engaged to be married," Suki replied.
"Aah," Ichirou answers in understanding.
"You should go with him, dear," Suki suggested.
"No," Ichirou's eyes widen as he replies quickly and sternfully.
"How would you feel if I told you that I was engaged to marry someone else?" Suki questions her husband.
"Then he'd be helping me get rid of a body," Ichirou teases.
Ichirou smirks as he receives a playful tap from his wife.
"I mean it, you should go with him. Besides, it'll give you a chance to break our good news. It might help cheer him up a bit," Suki continued.
Ichirou rolls his eyes and sighs in defeat. He knows he can never win against his beautiful wife. He places both hands on his wife's cheeks and leans in for a kiss.
"Now who's the kind one?" Ichirou asks.
Suki grins wide.
"Will you wait for me?" Ichirou asks.
"Always. I'll even wear your favorite," Suki replied.
"I don't remember ever choosing one."
"Exactly."
Suki smiles, blushing. Ichirou's eyes widened in realization at what his wife was hinting at.
"Oh. I'll buy him the strongest sake. He'll be asleep and we'll be attempting to make more Harada babies in no time."
Ichirou pulls his wife in for a kiss. Suki smiles. Ichirou smiles adoringly at his wife and lightly taps her forehead with his index and middle finger.
"I'll always love both of you," Ichirou confesses.
"I've always loved you and I always will," Suki answers.
"I'll be right back."
"Mmm. We'll be here."
Ichirou presses his forehead to his wife's and turns toward his cousin who's putting his jacket on downstairs.
"Carlos. Wait," Ichirou calls out.
"Yeah?" Carlos answers.
"I'm going with you."
"You're gonna be my wingman?" Carlos asks excitedly.
"I said I will come, I didn't say I will be staying long. I have. Uh..."
Ichirou turns to his wife with a carnal smile and a look of hunger that tells her she's not going to get any sleep tonight. Suki giggles, pulling her husband down planting another passionate kiss. She whispers in his ear.
Ichirou smiles and nods enveloping his loving wife in his arms.
"…uh...unfinished business that needs my undivided attention.
(in Japanese to his wife) Who do you think you are, me? Perhaps my wife isn't as kind after all. Do you want me to stay?"
Ichirou begs his wife with his pleading eyes to say yes. She offers a conflicted smile. They both laugh.
"I do but only if Kenzo can take your place and keep Carlos company. He shouldn't be alone."
Ichirou shakes his head in defeat. He shows her his phone showing his text message from Kenzo.
"I tried. He's on assignment," Ichirou answered.
"When did you?" Suki questions in surprise. She gets a brief look of surprise and laughs.
"I should've known. How can I forget how brilliant a man I married?"
Ichirou slightly winks at her, seeing a resemblance of Carlos in her husband reminding her how Harada they really are.
"Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt but, Chiro, are you still going?" Carlos questions, interrupting the young lovers.
Ichirou glares at his cousin from the top of the stairs. Suki covers her mouth to stifle her laugh earning a glare from her husband.
"I believe I asked you not to call me that," Ichirou answers threateningly and sighs. "Yes, I'll be right down."
"Carlos, I'm sorry. I told her to tell you a while ago, but she was afraid you would hurt her fiancé," Suki apologetically admits to Carlos.
Carlos balls his fists tightly and hangs his head. After a minute, he shakes his head and smiles his usual bright smile at Suki.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be alright. Though I might have to knock a few guys at the bar tonight," Carlos sarcastically replied.
"Carlos," Ichirou threatened.
Carlos places his hands behind his head and grins wide, his eyes disappearing into a slant mirroring his older brother at the moment.
"I'm kidding. Let me buy you a few rounds maybe some alcohol will bring your sense of humor back, ay Chiro?
Ichirou rolls his eyes as his cousin and his wife laughs.
- Ω -
INT. PUB – LATER THAT NIGHT
Ichirou and Carlos sit at the bar. Carlos's phone is on a stand between them. Obito Jr. (6), also called "Little Tobi", has his mother's kind eyes and his father's infectious smile and upbeat attitude, enthusiastically explain to his uncles the newest moves and power-ups he recently received on the RPG (role-playing game) his Uncle Carlos gave him for his birthday on the videophone.
In the background, his mother, Melani Harada, Obito's wife, a beautiful brunette with auburn-colored, shoulder length hair, in a red top w/ black skirt and a white, doctor's overcoat, walks up to her 6yo son.
"Honey, who are you talking to?" Melani questions her son.
"Hi mom. Uncle Carlos called for dad, but he's still asleep," Little Tobi answers.
Little Tobi points at his slightly snoring father asleep on his back on the couch hugging a "Melani" bear, a custom-made bear in a red top and a black skirt with a white overcoat made to look like his wife Mel, a humorous birthday present from Carlos.
Obito pulls the bear closer to his face and mumbles "You're so beautiful, Mel. I love you so much." He gives a few air kisses. Melani chuckles placing a hand over her husband's forehead and brushes a few bangs away. She removes his other shoe and places his feet properly on the couch. She leans in, gives her husband a kiss and whispers in his ear.
"I love you too but unfortunately, I'm already married," Melani teases her sleep-talking husband on the couch.
"Who's the bastard that's trying to take my Mel away?" Obito sleep-talks aloud.
Melani giggles. Little Tobi rolls his eyes and turns his attention to the videophone.
"Ugh...dad's having a nightmare again. He thinks there's an imaginary guy taking my mom away from him. Mom thinks it's cute. She just laughs then gives him kisses. Yuck! Uncle, are you gross like that with Auntie Suki?" Little Tobi asked his uncle.
Ichirou's eyes widen, slightly blushing. Carlos leans in on the videophone, beaming.
"He's worse. Like today, I saw Uncle Ichi…Oliver…" Carlos whispers through the videophone.
Oliver is the name that Little Tobi and the name Ichirou uses in public due to his "special circumstance". On the screen, Carlos ducks from Ichirou's hand barely missing him and instead hits the waiter with a tray full of drinks behind him. One of the glasses hits the chair and breaks, cutting Carlos on the sleeve before completely shattering on the ground. Carlos apologizes to the waiter and bends down to help the waiter clean up. The waiter notices Carlos's tattoo on his right bicep through his ripped sleeve that is starting to bleed from an open cut. The waiter freezes on the spot, his eyes widen in realization.
A moment later, the waiter profusely apologizes and frantically cleans up. Carlos grabs a handful of napkins to cover his tattoo to try to stop the bleeding. He hands the waiter money, but the waiter shoves it back refusing the offer, vigorously shakes his head and bows to leave. Carlos panics.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Fuck!" Carlos curses out loud and buries his face in his hands.
Ichirou gives him a worried look. On the other side of the videophone, Little Tobi is seen with a shocked expression, his hands over his mouth. His mother kneels beside him.
"Okay, sweetie. Tell your potty-mouthed uncle and your Uncle Tenma goodnight. Come on, it's daddy's turn to talk. Maybe he can remind your potty-mouthed uncle that you're only six and your brain's like a sponge," Melani hurries her son off the phone.
"Night, Uncle Carlos. Goodnight, Uncle Oliver," Little Tobi bids his uncles goodnight.
Melani ushers Little Tobi off the phone as she glares at an apologetic Carlos through the screen.
"Sorry, Tobi. Uncle didn't mean that. Goodnight, little man. Sorry, Mel," Carlos apologized.
"Goodnight, Tobi," Ichirou bids his little cousin goodnight.
Obito Harada sits up and yawns from the couch still hugging his Melani bear.
"What—did you do to my Mel? Do I have to fly down there?" Obito sleepily threatens his younger brother through the videophone.
"NO! I…shit. I fucked up," Carlos nervously admits.
Obito's talking with his eyes closed and his head resting on the bear. He yawns again.
"What'd you do this time?" Obito accuses his younger brother.
"I…can't talk about it here," Carlos answered.
Ichirou exchanged glances with the bartender who hands him a key and nods in a general direction. Ichirou silently thanks the bartender.
"We'll call you right back. Stand by," Ichirou instructed Obito.
"Mmm-hmm," Obito answered tiredly, yawning.
Moments later, Ichirou and Carlos sat beside each other behind the Pub owner's desk. Obito, with his disheveled spiky hair matching the bags under his eyes, sips a cup of coffee in front of his granite countertop of his modern kitchen. He yawns.
"Sorry. Yuji calls himself punishing me for embarrassing him in front of a very cute pink-haired waitress. He doubled my workload and... I'm pretty sure most of it is his," Obito confesses.
"Aww...little Yuji finally has a girlfriend," Carlos teases.
Obito smiles, shaking his head.
"I wish. She almost knocked me over she was trying to get away from him so fast," Obito recalled.
Carlos grins.
"Doesn't he know that Harada men have women running towards them and not away from them? What does she look like?"
Obito smiles warmly at his brother. Obito misses his younger brother. He hasn't seen him in years. He wishes he can visit his brother and mother more. His mother has only seen his son once when he was born.
"Beautiful smile, cute little figure. I thought they had chemistry there for a second," Obito continued.
"Can we please focus to the matter at hand?" Ichirou interjected.
"Right. Sorry. Carlos, what did you do?" Obito asks his younger brother.
Carlos's face lost all humor and playfulness and was replaced by a more serious and stonier exterior.
"I think I've been made," Carlos confesses.
"Care to elaborate?" Obito asked through the videophone.
"That waiter recognized me," Carlos answered.
"What makes you so sure?" Obito questioned.
"Photographic memory remember? The Yuki assignment a few years back. There might've been a survivor," Carlos answered.
"Might've?" Ichirou interjected.
"He was supposed to be gone along with his older brother. Jesus…how was I supposed to know he was in the house? His father ripped my sleeve. The kid must've recognized my tat," Carlos explained.
Obito stares at a family vacation picture on his refrigerator. He gets a depressed look in his eyes and sighs knowing what needs to be done.
"I'm sorry, Carlos. There's no way around it," Obito apologized.
"I…know," Carlos answered dejectedly.
"It can't get out that you didn't finish the job," Ichirou interjected.
"Fucking kid…why the hell did he come back?" Carlos asked.
Ichirou turns to Tobi on the screen.
"How's Yuji?" Ichirou asks Obito.
"I think he's in one of his moods again. Haven't spoken to him in days," Obito replied.
"Anything wrong?" Ichirou asks, concern evident in his voice.
"No. The old hag has been working him non-stop and he probably just needed a little time to himself. Usually with one of his girls. I was hoping that the pink-haired cutie would be the one to slow him down. I also investigated that secretary of his. She failed to mention that her husband works for Alastor Mirrikh," Obito replied.
"Alastor Mirrikh? Hnn. What would he want with Yuji? Ichirou asked.
"Not sure but I have no doubt that sly snake is up to something. In the meantime, Yuji's meeting Tattaglia in a few weeks, any concerns? Obito inquired.
"I went to see them. Señore Salvatore wasn't there but Señora Luciana said that Gram approached them about obtaining rights for some of their properties in Las Vegas. She didn't sound too concerned. She's sending her son, Matteo, to meet with Yuji," Ichirou answered.
"That's good but I would still like eyes on them since the hag's probably gonna insist on Anna and a few of the men tagging along. If you don't mind, I'd like the Lees for the job," Obito suggested.
"Yichen and Lixian? Is that going to be a conflict of interest since she works for the CIA?" Ichirou questioned.
"No. She retired once she had their daughter," Obito answered.
"Hnn. If you trust them, I don't see a problem with it," Ichirou replied.
"Good, that's settled then. Carlos, I'm sorry but you're going to have to take care of that as soon as possible. We can't put the family in danger, especially since we don't know what kind of backlash that's gonna bring," Obito addresses his brother on the videophone.
"Yeah. I got it," Carlos sadly answered.
"Anything else?" Obito asked.
Ichirou looks at a depressed Carlos with his face in his hands. He contemplates and smiles, figuring that now's the best time as any to drop the news.
"There is one other thing. I married Suki a few weeks ago," Ichirou declared.
"It's about time she officially joined the family. Mel will be happy to hear that," Obito congratulated.
"Have you told Mama yet?" Carlos asked.
"She witnessed it," Ichirou answered.
Carlos immediately perks up and places an arm around Ichirou. Ichirou looks questionably at Carlos and at the arm he placed. Carlos doesn't take notice.
"So that's where Mama was when she had to go on vacation all of a sudden. Man, I thought she had a secret boyfriend or something," Carlos excitedly explained.
Carlos takes his arm off Ichirou to wipe his brow, noticing an uncomfortable look on Ichirou which would've gone undetected to anyone else.
"What?" Carlos naively questioned.
"She wasn't entirely alone," Ichirou confessed.
"What do you mean?" Carlos questioned.
"He's talking about Kenzo," Obito interjected.
Carlos looks incredulously towards Obito on the videophone. Obito continues, nonchalantly sipping his coffee.
"What about Kenzo? What does he have to do with Mama?" Carlos asked.
"They were practically inseparable," Ichirou answered.
Carlos looks back and forth between Obito and Ichirou, confused.
"What does he mean inseparable?" Carlos asked.
"Carlos, mama's been a widow for almost twenty years. She's not a nun, she's gonna date. If she is gonna date, it might as well be with a guy like Kenzo. Or would you rather her end up with that Kratos guy?" Obito questions his brother.
"You mean angry, psychotic redhead?! Fu-I mean hell no but Kenzo?! How come I'm just hearing about this?" Carlos argued.
Carlos aims a wrathful expression between his cousin next to him and his brother on the videophone.
"You know I talk to Mama almost every day and you would if you were home more often," Obito confessed.
"That's not all," Ichirou continued.
"What now?" asked Carlos.
"Suki's pregnant," Ichirou continued.
"Congratulations! I didn't wanna say anything, but I thought she might wanna slow down on all those dangos," Carlos claimed.
Ichirou gives Carlos a quick slap to the back of the head.
"Sorry. You know I didn't mean anything by it," Carlos apologized.
"That's what you get, Carlos. I'm happy for you and Suki," Obito interjected.
"Thanks," Ichirou replied.
"Anything else? Carlos?" Obito asked.
Carlos shakes his head and Ichirou does the same.
"Let me know when you hear from Yuji," Ichirou tells Obito.
"Of course. Keep an eye on my knuckleheaded little brother for me. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?" Obito asked.
Ichirou nods.
The following morning, Carlos turns at the pretty woman sleeping peacefully next to him and smiles. He turns away from her and reaches for his keys on the nightstand. They rattle. She stirs and groans. He slowly places them back down. He carefully sits up. The covers slip off him revealing him only in his bright red boxers adorned with black, four-point pinwheels all over.
He sneaks off the bed, picks up his clothes off the floor and his cell phone next to his keys.
He skulks sleepily toward the bathroom, locks the door, and rinses his face. He does a double take upon seeing a reflected picture of him in the mirror as he dries his face.
He stops to look around. He is horrified to see dozens of various photo shopped pictures of himself and the sleeping woman. One picture could be from their wedding day, Carlos smiling in a white tux next to the sleeping woman in a wedding gown.
Another picture shows Carlos looking out of place in a black shirt and his favorite forest green flak vest and jeans while the woman is in her bikini with the beach behind them.
Carlos frantically dials on his cell as he tears one of the pictures from the wall to examine it more closely. The person on the other end picks up.
"No," the person on the other end of the phone sternly stated.
"Chiro, you've got to help me," Carlos whispers frantically over the phone, careful not to wake the sleeping woman next door.
"What do you mean? Carlos, grown men run at the sound of your name, "the Body Flicker". I'm sure you can handle it," Ichirou retorts.
Ichirou's phone beeps. He answers a video call from Carlos. Carlos holds a picture up. Ichirou looks amused as he nudges his wife awake to show her the picture of Carlos holding a happy, curly-haired toddler next to the smiling woman. The toddler is an odd replication of what looked like from one of those baby-making machines where two pictures are merged to make one. Suki giggles.
"Is that Carlos? Why have you been hiding a family from us?" Suki inquired in Japanese.
Carlos has a look of panic all over his face.
"They are not my family! She's crazy! As a matter of fact, she's your husband's level 5 clinger! She kept calling me Ichirou," Carlos replied in a panic.
Ichirou smirks. He turns the camera around to show the picture collage of Carlos's imaginative family that the sleeping obsessed woman built.
"Come on, Chiro. Can you please pick me up?" Carlos pleaded.
"No. That's what you get for interrupting our private time," Ichirou replied coldheartedly.
"Look, I'm sorry for cockblocking. I swear I'll never do that again. I'll even watch the kid so you guys can get some just come get me. Please hurry!" Carlos pleaded in Portuguese.
While Ichirou enjoys seeing his usually confident cousin in a rather amusing position, when he starts begging in Portuguese means that he's had enough and that he's serious. The fact that Carlos hasn't been in more situations like this with women surprises him on its own.
"How did you get there?" Ichirou inquired.
"I drove but I left the keys on the nightstand. Oh shit...shit," Carlos whispered in a panic.
Carlos quickly turns his head towards the bathroom door like a frightened gazelle in an open grassland. There's a slight moan in the bedroom next door.
"Ichirou?" Unnamed woman called out from the bedroom.
"Fuck this..callyouguysback," Carlos whispered in a hurry.
Carlos hastily opens a window, hops out in a flash and dashes down the street.
He slows down to wink at a beautiful, dumbfounded, dark-haired woman watering her garden. Her little dog barks at her feet. She flashes him a bright smile.
"Nice boxers!" Dark-haired woman yelled.
Carlos beams and starts gaining momentum again. He quickly does a sudden frontal flip over the hood of a beige Chrysler CTS V and lands gracefully next to the driver's side thanks to his lightning reflex. He pulls his fist back to hit the tinted window when it rolls down.
"Please don't hurt my baby. I just bought her," Unknown male in the car pleaded.
"Kenzo?!" Carlos called out, recognizing the man in the car.
"Get in. Can you…please. not. do. That?"
KENZO (30) sighs as Carlos does a semi-cartwheel and a back flip using the car's hood and roof as leverage and diving feet first into the opened passenger window into the seat like it was the norm.
Carlos looks around and nods approvingly at the black leather interior with wooden trim and a wide, square-shaped computer screen on the dash displaying their current location.
"Nice wheels."
"Thanks."
"I didn't think it's something you'd get. Not your style. Isn't it a little roomy?"
"Needed something different. Plus, a friend helped me pick it. She said the warm tones of the wood matches my earthly, helpful nature."
Carlos touches the pink rosary hanging off the rearview mirror. Carlos's eyes widen, realization dawning on him.
"You converted to Catholicism too?" Carlos accused.
Kenzo looks questioningly at Carlos's stony face and shrugs. Carlos stares back at Kenzo then clocks him square in the face. Kenzo grabs his face with one hand and tries to steady the wheel with the other.
Carlos grabs a sweatshirt and a shirt from the backseat. He tosses the shirt at Kenzo who easily catches and places it over his bloody nose. Carlos puts the sweater on.
"You're welcome. Ingrate. Should've listened to Ichirou when he said not to get you," Kenzo replied.
"That's for Mama," Carlos answered.
"Oh. They…told you?"
"Yeah. Why the fuck didn't you?"
"I was going to. But by the time I got back, Ichirou told me you were…"
"Yeah, I was on a mission. So what? You still could've called, texted, emailed, sent a fucking hawk," Carlos replied, annoyed.
"Didn't think it was a good time. I didn't want to risk getting you upset. You're right, I'm sorry. I should've told you," Kenzo explained.
"Shit. You're the reason Mama's wearing make-up again and singing like Mary fucking Poppins early in the fucking morning," Carlos replied in realization.
"Your mom's right, you swear a lot."
Carlos hits Kenzo on the arm earning a grimace.
"Fuck off, dad. Shit! If you guys get married, you will be…"
Kenzo and Carlos look at each other and burst out laughing.
"My fucking best friend and my Mama. Hey, thanks for the lift, especially considering it's the least you could do. Still don't understand how you got Tobi's approval."
Kenzo tenses up a bit and grabbed the steering wheel a bit tighter.
"What the fuck is it now? I swear if you tell me that she's pregnant..."
"What?! NO!"
"Then what?"
Tobi was the one who called me and told me she needed an escort.
"What?! Why would he call you? Unless he thinks that Mama's in danger..."
"I'm sure it's nothing like that. You know how overprotective he is - he probably doesn't even know it."
"Yeah...you're right."
"Anyway, heard you have a clean-up problem. Anything I can do to help?"
"Not unless you have a time machine and you can go back in time and get the kid outta the house."
"Sorry. You think his brother's gonna retaliate?"
"Probably. I know I would."
LATER, IN THE EARLY MORNING AT 3AM, IN THE ALLEYWAY NEXT TO THE PUB WHERE THE HARADA COUSINS WERE...
Toshiro Yuki (21), the young waiter who had a run in with Carlos Harada inside the pub, drops a black garbage bag in the dumpster. He pauses, smiles, and closes his eyes. Carlos, in dark clothing, silently drops behind Toshi.
"I did it, brother," Toshiro whispers to himself in Japanese.
"I'm sorry, kid," Carlos whispers before efficiently slitting the young waiter's throat.
The body drops silently on the ground. Carlos stares at the body for a few seconds. He grabs his right arm soaked in blood from the cut he obtained during the earlier incident and groans. His vision starts to double.
A short while later at Suki's and Ichirou's house, Ichirou silently walks back toward his bedroom, a glass of milk in hand. He stops as he sees Carlos crawl through the guest bedroom's window, which Carlos claimed as his. He smiles at Ichirou and shakes his head.
"What's the point of having a key if you're never going to use it?" Ichirou quietly asked.
"I didn't wanna wake you guys up," Carlos replied weakly, struggling to breathe.
"Carlos, what's wrong?" Ichirou asked rushing to his cousin's side dropping the glass of milk and running to catch Carlos as he practically falls in through the window.
Carlos looks up at Ichirou with a huge grin. Ichirou's eyes wide with concern and confusion.
"Damn kid got me," Carlos weakly stated before passing out.
"Carlos!" Ichirou cried.